Bulls' Rose avoids setback

April 23, 2012|By K.C. Johnson | Tribune reporter

Derrick Rose participated in the majority of Monday's Chicago Bulls' practice at the Berto Center and, according to coach Tom Thibodeau, is "feeling great" after returning from his right foot injury to play Saturday.

Rose suffered no setbacks after logging just under 32 minutes against the Dallas Mavericks. In fact, the Bulls, on the second day of their only non-All-Star-related, three-day break of the season, are as healthy as they've been as they chase the Eastern Conference's top seed.

Their magic number to clinch the top seed and home-court advantage through at least the Eastern Conference playoffs stands at one. Any Bulls victory or Miami Heat loss would give the Bulls the top seed for the second straight season.

"We’re trying to get home-court advantage," Joakim Noah said. "That’s pretty important. Secondly, we’re in a situation where we’ve had injuries. We haven’t had a lot of time to play together. The more experience you have on the court, the better. We’re a pretty healthy group. Guys are getting back to where they need to get to. We’re fine. We’re hoping to clinch."

Because that top seed remains to be clinched and the starting lineup has played just 14 games together, Thibodeau said he won't rest players over the final two games. He did say he might not have them play extended minutes.

"I’d rather play than rest," Luol Deng said. "You’ve played all these games anyway. So it’s a rhythm thing."

The Bulls play at Indiana on Wednesday and at home against Cleveland to close the regular season Thursday.